RICHARD DOWDEN. The Independent. London (UK): Sep 26, 1994.

Gambia's Sir Dawda Jawara breaks his silence to describe to Richard
Dowden, Africa Editor, the military coup which overthrew a model
multi-party democracy with a unique human rights record

SIR DAWDA JAWARA, who led Gambia for more than 30 years until his
overthrow in a coup three months, broke his silence yesterday and called
on the international community to drive out the military junta. "We have
an even stronger case than Haiti," he said. "I will feel very let down if
military rule is allowed to take root."

Gambia is a test case for Britain and America. For years they have held up
Sir Dawda's rule as a model multi-party democracy that respected human
rights. He was overthrown by a group of junior officers complaining about
pay and conditions. If the West fails to restore constitutional government
in this tiny West African state, the coup could be seen to have made a
mockery of the Western policy of promoting democracy in Africa.

Washington has cut off aid, but Britain and the European Union have yet to
announce measures. "We have made it clear that the relationship cannot
continue and we are reviewing what we might do," said a Foreign Office
spokesman yesterday. Although he came to Britain as a personal guest of
the Prime Minister three years ago, no minister has found time to see Sir
Dawda since he arrived here on 27 August.

Sir Dawda told the Independent yesterday that he was demanding the
restoration of constitutional rule. "I call on all countries and
organisations to co-operate in immediately restoring constitutional rule
in Gambia, and returning the soldiers to barracks," he said, but added
that he is not demanding that he return as head of state. At 70 years old,
he is reluctant to serve another term as president, but has offered to
return as head of an interim government to oversee presidential elections.

"I think I have done enough for my country," he said. "I would only
participate if it is in the national interest." A quiet, cautious man, who
now lives in his modest house in Haywards Heath, Sir Dawda said: "I have
been silent since the second day of the coup because of a desire not to
add to the confusion." He has been trying to use his status as national
leader to persuade the military junta to depart; several former ministers
and officials have been detained, and there has been a crackdown on
Gambians who wear long hair and hang around Western tourists. The new
government has accused them of being drug peddlers, pimps or male
prostitutes.

Sir Dawda said he had not called on the Gambian people to rise up against
the new regime "because the junta might increase its reign of terror". He
has offered the junta an amnesty if they step down quickly.

"I am very concerned about abuses of human rights, arbitrary arrests and
detentions," said Sir Dawda. "All Gambians must now reflect on the
predicament of our country. We have come to expect freedom, democracy and
the rule of law. A military dictatorship cannot be acceptable in our
country."

Prime Minister of Gambia when John F Kennedy was president of the United
States and Harold MacMillan prime minister in Britain, Sir Dawda became
president in 1970. For several years he was the doyen of the Commonwealth
heads of government and a personal friend of the Queen. Gambia, half the
size of Wales with a population of less than 1 million, has had close
links to Britain for centuries and is a popular tourist destination.
Britain maintained an army training team in Gambia until recently. Sir
Dawda said if the team had still been there, the coup may not have taken
place; the Gambian army is less than 1,000 strong. The country's human
rights record, unique in Africa, persuaded the Organization of African
Unity to set up its human rights office in the capital, Banjul.

Gambia is poor, but has low inflation, stable currency and strong
reserves. It was about to receive several million dollars in aid from the
World Bank and other organisations to expand its port and warehousing
facilities in a scheme known as the Gateway Project, which would have made
it an entry point for imports into the region. Ironically this project may
have played a part in the President's downfall.

Sir Dawda told the Independent that he had been warned of a coup only
moments before he was told to flee. He was urged to go on board a US Navy
frigate, La Moore County, which was in port at the time; it was taking
part in joint exercises with the Gambian Defence forces. "The presence of
the US frigate facilitated the coup, because there was transport laid on
at the barracks, and the armoury was opened to provide weapons for the
exercise," said Sir Dawda. Asked if the Americans could have had a hand in
the coup, he said: "Not as far as I know. I cannot see a motive for them."

The frigate captain and the US ambassador told the President that the 70
marines on board could make a stand and stop the coup, but permission to
do so was not given by Washington. From the frigate Sir Dawda was able to
contact the coup-makers, who urged him to return as a private citizen. He
refused saying he could only return as head of state with his government,
but said he was willing to hold talks with them. Sir Dawda was then told
that a member of the frigate crew had fallen sick and had to be put ashore
at Dakar, the Senegalese capital. Sir Dawda was also put ashore there and
found himself taken to a house without a telephone. He was unable to leave
or speak to anyone other than his family for several weeks. "I was
trapped," he said.

Relations between Sir Dawda and Senegal have been cool since he pulled out
of the Senegambia union, which was agreed in 1982 and supposed to merge
the two countries in a confederacy. Some Gambians suspect that Senegal was
worried by the Gateway Project since both its government and its
businessmen stood to lose revenue to cheap imports from Gambia. Sir Dawda
would not comment on Senegalese involvement. "Dakar can be very
influential in Gambia" he said.

(Photograph omitted)

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